Keeping hens and ducks chat.

ali-t

Glad to hear it is working for you dizzy imp. We put down hay at the weekend too and the girls were terrified of it to begin with and stood screaming in one corner of the enclosure. We are also still getting 8-10 eggs a day which is great.


Thanks Edwink for the suggestions, now trying to convince the man of the house to build a roof for part of the enclosure. We are considering felt wrapped round wood and making a frame to hold it. Roof is approx. 6-7' high so shouldn't be a problem for red mite to use felt should it?

skipton

My girls looked a total mess this afternoon. They were all pretty damp/wet when they must have decided that it was a good day for a dust bath. They have a covered area that has dry soil/compost/wood chippings in so on mass (all 9 of them) they rolled in the dry soil. The 2 white leghorns are now a muddy grey colour spoiling their new feathers.

edwink

ali-t wrote: »

We are considering felt wrapped round wood and making a frame to hold it. Roof is approx. 6-7' high so shouldn't be a problem for red mite to use felt should it?

Hi ali-t

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you I have had a poorly couple of weeks. Hopefully slowly on the mend now.

I would say that the felt should not be a problem. Maybe once in a while give it a light dusting of mite powder to be on the safe side. When we had our mite problems they were everywhere even under the felt roof but that was the roof of their hotel where they slept at night and not a bad weather shelter.

Are you making any progress with the shelter?

Edwink

edwink

skipton wrote: »

My girls looked a total mess this afternoon. They were all pretty damp/wet when they must have decided that it was a good day for a dust bath. They have a covered area that has dry soil/compost/wood chippings in so on mass (all 9 of them) they rolled in the dry soil. The 2 white leghorns are now a muddy grey colour spoiling their new feathers.

Hi Skipton

I had a White Star with a floppy comb and she used to do that and she used to look dreadful. I used to think if anyone saw her they would report us to the authorities for not looking after her. Only joking of course but boy did she look blooming filthy.

Don't worry it will soon wear off it always does. Then no doubt they will do the same again. :eek:
Edwink

ali-t

edwink wrote: »

Hi ali-t

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you I have had a poorly couple of weeks. Hopefully slowly on the mend now.

I would say that the felt should not be a problem. Maybe once in a while give it a light dusting of mite powder to be on the safe side. When we had our mite problems they were everywhere even under the felt roof but that was the roof of their hotel where they slept at night and not a bad weather shelter.

Are you making any progress with the shelter?

Edwink

None! Mr ali-t has some plans but not the confidence (or he says ability!) To make them happen.

sorry to hear you have not been well, hope you are on the mend soon.

edwink

Hope everyone's girls are ok in this blustery weather. Mine were getting blown about all over the place today. We allow them down in our main garden in the winter months because it is warmer nearer our house. I was watching them out of the kitchen doors poor little things. I gave them some porridge and chopped up some little bits of grapes for them.

Got 3 eggs today Yay!! Nearly enough for double egg and chips for the two of us.

Keep warm everyone.

Edwink x

Happygreen

edwink wrote: »

Hope everyone's girls are ok in this blustery weather. Mine were getting blown about all over the place today. We allow them down in our main garden in the winter months because it is warmer nearer our house. I was watching them out of the kitchen doors poor little things. I gave them so porridge and chopped up some little bits of grapes for them.

Got 3 eggs today Yay!! Nearly enough for double egg and chips for the two of us.

Keep warm everyone.

Edwink x

Wow, Edwink, that's early for eggs! I won't expect any from the ginger girls before around Christmas time. Their combs are still tiny and pale and they only just got their new feathers in time for the first frosts
I find an eggs in each duck house every second day, which will bridge us over the weeks for now as I still have a bit of a backlog from the glut Quiche yesterday :rotfl:

edwink

Happygreen wrote: »

Wow, Edwink, that's early for eggs! I won't expect any from the ginger girls before around Christmas time. Their combs are still tiny and pale and they only just got their new feathers in time for the first frosts
I find an eggs in each duck house every second day, which will bridge us over the weeks for now as I still have a bit of a backlog from the glut Quiche yesterday :rotfl:

Our hens have not stopped laying for the winter yet. We have 14 and are getting between 1 and 4 eggs per day. Although nearer to one egg as it is getting colder now. Our ducks have stopped completely and like previous years they will start laying again in January. Bless 'em.


Edwink x

skipton

My Blubelle hasn't laid for months but she started again this weekend and I've had 1 every other day so far this week.
My girls hate the wind blowing up their fluffy knickers.

Happygreen

edwink wrote: »

Our hens have not stopped laying for the winter yet. We have 14 and are getting between 1 and 4 eggs per day. Although nearer to one egg as it is getting colder now. Our ducks have stopped completely and like previous years they will start laying again in January. Bless 'em.


Edwink x

That is so interesting how different families have such different rhythms. Someone once told me that an early moult means there will be an early frost and winter - mine were definitely early this year and the ducks weeks ahead of the hens (whatever that means!) . But that might explain the regional differences as we are probably much further north than you are